Celebrate Getting Old In 2016

Did you know that “getting old and enjoying it” was a trending topic in 2015? How to keep the momentum going.

I discovered Pfizer Inc.’s Get Old program back in 2013 when I was invited as a mid-life blogger to go to New York and give feedback on this initiative when it was being rolled out. I loved how Get Old was created as a terrific resource for inspiration and motivation to embrace and enjoy life’s second — and even third — acts of life. The focus areas of Love and Sex; Family and Relationships; and Health and Wellness has great tips and conversations for anyone who wants to move forward with passion and dignity.As 2015 came to an end, Pfizer Inc. reflected on the biggest trends of the year in regards to aging, and highlighted a few to take note of in 2016. I was overjoyed to see that The Mid Life Guru was recommended as a social media site “for the older generation, as a place where seniors can go for questions and topics on aging.”

What are some of the other midlife getting old themes Pfizer Inc. found? Here are a dozen dazzling getting old trends:

#1 Grannyhair: Celebrities like Pink, Kylie Jenner and Nicole Richie opted to go fifty shades of gray this year by dyeing their natural locks gray. This trend has trickled down to naturally gray haired women and encouraged the acceptance of gray hair as glamorous and beautiful.The Mid Life featured a guest post by another midlife blogger telling about her going gray experience.

#2 Cover Girls Women: The magazine industry jumped on this trend and proved that you can be beautiful at any age by straying from the typical cover girl and featuring women over the age of 40, such as Julianne Moore and Viola Davis, in major publications.

I got his AARP Magazine in the mail last year.

#3 Movies: While you may have heard the saying “don’t believe everything you see in the movies,” this year the film industry truly reflected the trend of embracing aging. Some of this year’s best sellers highlighted that it’s never too late to start over, with films such as The Intern, Age of Adeline, and Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel.

One of our favorite movies of 2015

#4 Pfizer’s Get Old: The pharmaceutical company Pfizer continued their multi-year initiative, Get Old. They launched the “Get Ready. Get Set. Get Old.” campaign this June with the release of the “Commencement Day” video spreading the message that there is no pre-determined age for embarking on a life event. Get Old also launched Life Forecast, a tool designed to encourage consumers to take an active role in their own health and well-being, by taking a fun approach to “forecast” people’s experiences by the time they reach 100 years old based on current ages and interests. I had fun figuring out my Life Forecast.

#5 Skin protection: This year, more people begin to understand the risks of sun damage and take action to protect their skin in order to live a healthy life. The National Cancer Institute projects that by 2020, the number of adults 18 and older who follow protective measures against the sun will increase to 73.7%.[i]The Mid Life Guru is all about proper skin protection as we age.

#6 Getting Fit: Similar to sun protection, exercise continues to be an activity seniors are embracing to live healthier lives. New statistics show that the elderly who exercise live 5 years longer[ii]. With this in mind, in 2015 seniors have taken an active role in their health by getting physical and staying in shape. Parks worldwide are being designed and redesigned with physical activity for seniors in mind, and Barcelona alone has around 300 seniors-only parks.[iii] Healthy Living through exercise is one of the Mid Life Guru’s five main topic areas.

#7 Print Advertising: Teenage models are so last year, as this year designers including Céline, Kate Spade, L’Oréal and debuted their 2015 print campaigns, featuring this year’s new “it girls” – women in their 80s and 90s![iv]

#8 seniors at Sea: As the aging population reaches retirement, it is the perfect time for vacation. Fortunately, there are now travel experiences being tailored to mature adults so they can comfortably travel the world[vi].

#9 Change of scenery: Starting over in a new city is no longer for 20-somethings. In 2015, people in their second stages of life picking up and moving, even to different countries. Meet 51-year-old Cheryl McDonald who has decided to leave her home in the United States and move to China, having to adjust to a new way of life, a new job and a new country.[vii]

#10 The Comeback: Red lips[viii] and high waisted jeans[ix] made a huge comeback this year, bringing the classic vintage look to the modern girl’s closet.

#11 Tech: While seniors previously lagged behind in adopting technology, now a majority of senior citizens (58%) are using the internet according to Pew Research.[xi] As more and more seniors take an active role in technology, companies are creating apps, medical devices, and initiatives such as the AARP Innovation Fund, to gear their products and services towards the older generation.[xii]

#12 Who to Follow over 50: Social media isn’t just for the young. In 2015, the older generation continued to dominate the social scene on Instagram, Pinterest and Facebook in particular, which has seen a significant rise of the senior population. Blogs have also become a platform for the older generation, as a place where seniors can go for questions and topics on aging. Be sure to visit sites like HuffPost 50 and The Midlife Guru for all of your aging needs and advice.

From fashion and beauty to magazines, advertising and technology, 2015 proved to be the year of celebrating aging. Whether it’s trying a new city or starting a new job, life is not always clearly defined. As our population continues to age, it is a breath of fresh air to see trends that skew towards celebrating life’s second acts.

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About Caryn

Hi. I'm Caryn, your Mid Life Guru -- an authentic and trusted mid-life voice sharing the wisdom I've gained in my first 50 years and adding to it new, relevant, and exciting information to get through the next 50.